Government Opens Pathways for Private Investment, Establishing a "National Shipping Line"

     Maritime transport of goods is a crucial component of international trade and global market competitiveness. It is a system that can transport a large volume of goods at a lower freight cost compared to other forms of transportation.

     The Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) has outlined a plan to establish a "National Shipping Line", in line with the policy of the Ministry of Transport. This plan involves a collaboration with the private sector in a proportion not exceeding 25% to create a management structure that can make swift decisions. This plan leverages the strengths of both the government and the private sector in order to develop Thailand's coastal transportation.

     From the study, there are nine suitable domestic shipping routes in total. However, three routes are identified as suitable for investment and do not overlap with existing routes operated by private firms. These include:

  1. Map Ta Phut Port (Rayong) - Laem Chabang Port (Chonburi)
  2. Fire Sun Port (Samut Sakhon) - Laem Chabang Port (Chonburi)
  3. Laem Chabang Port (Chonburi) – Surat Thani Port

In terms of international shipping routes, the service types have been divided into two stages:

     Stage 1 is non-regular route shipping (Tramp Service), providing service for bulk cargo, with a projected service usage of 1.2 million tons.
     Stage 2 is a container shipping service (Container Service) in East Asia (China, Japan, Hong Kong), ASEAN (Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam), and BIMSTEC countries (India and Myanmar) with an estimated volume of 20 million tons.

     In terms of importing goods from abroad, it is estimated that the National Shipping Line company will serve about 2% of total exports and imports, equivalent to 31,000 TEUs of containerized goods.

     The establishment of the National Shipping Line is a significant policy in promoting maritime commerce and fostering the development of water transportation. It aims to reduce transportation costs, increase the proportion of coastal goods transportation, and enhance competitive capabilities by utilizing maritime transportation infrastructure cost-effectively. The ultimate goal is to become a comprehensive logistics hub in the region.

Source: The Port Authority of Thailand
Tel. +66 2269 3000
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